Strawberry Winning Recipe...time will tell

Ahhh...strawberry season has arrived in the Natural State! Don't you just love the taste of fresh strawberries? They are so low in calories and full of vitamins, fiber, and minerals, you should really include these juicy little morsels into your meal plans any way you can!.  Lots of ways you can do this, too!  And...according to the London, Ohio Strawberry Festival, how about a few, fun strawberry facts?

1. Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside
2. The average strawberry has 200 seeds.
3. Madame Tallien, a prominent figure at the court of the Emperor Napoleon, was famous for bathing in the juice of fresh strawberries. She used 22 pounds per basin. 
4. Strawberries are a member of the rose family.
5. Ninety-four percent of US households consume strawberries.

Check out this site for more interesting trivia on strawberries. But, in the mean time, if you are one of the 94 percentile of families in the US that consumes this delicious fruit and doesn't bathe in them like Madame Tallien, please read on...

I have been working on a recipe for the Real Women of Philadelphia Contest  and, recently have come up with a wonderful and hopefully winning dessert that will rock Paula Deen and her boys socks off!  They are judging this super contest, and I have my fingers crossed to get to meet them in Savannah, come late June, to cook this luscious recipe I just originated, especially for Paula! Check out all of my cooking videos for this fun contest on YouTube! And, try this prize winning recipe...at least in the Hocut home...when your local berries come in season!

Strawberry Scone Shortcake

with Strawberry 1/3 Less Fat Philly Cream Cheese

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, unsifted

3 tablespoons sugar

2 cups fresh strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt 

6 tablespoons butter, cold

1/3 cups milk, whole

1 (8 ounces) tub of Strawberry 1/3 Less Fat Philly or more!

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F
2. Wash, hull, and slice berries
3. In an upright mixer, mix together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder and then add the butter
4. Mix until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs or cornmeal and remove from mixer
5. By hand, mix in about 3/4 cup of the prepared strawberries
6. Add all of the milk and with a fork, toss together until the mixture holds together, well
7. With floured hands gently form into a ball
8. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/2 inch thickness with a rolling pin
9. Cut the dough with a 2 1/2 inch circle cutter
10. Place the scones onto a greased cookie sheet and bake about 12 minutes or until golden brown
11. Remove from oven and serve your Strawberry Scone Shortcakes warm and generously spread with the Strawberry 1/3 Less Fat Philly
12. Sprinkle with the remaining strawberries

When I tasted these scrumptious scones lathered in the Strawberry Philly for the first time, I knew they were absolutely the best dessert I have made in a good while! I hope you enjoy the simplicity and tastiness of this ???prize winning??? recipe. The Strawberry 1/3 Less Fat Philly Cream Cheese is the perfect topping for these perfect Strawberry Scone Shortcakes.  And, thanks for stopping by Di's Cup Cakes...we always love your visit and especially enjoy reading your comments! And, as my Nannie use to say..."Y'all drop in when you can!"

Happy Birthday, Real Woman...Debi Wood

If by chance you have been living under a rock lately, and not heard of the Real Women of Philadelphia Contest, you have to drop by the site and check out this Real Woman...Debi Wood! This month, I've been told is her birthday, and if it isn't...who cares...you gotta meet this gal!

On her Real Women Contest profile, Debi considers herself a "lucky girl." Yes, Debi, as for my experience, the harder you work, the luckier you get...and, I see how hard you are working at husbands, kids, grandkids, gardening, pets, a rewarding job, cooking, and everything else that comes your way like this Real Women Contest.  I'm worn out just writing about it! And, you are doing a terrific job, Debi, because apparently you are doing the things you love! Debi also says, "As you can see I wear many hats, and speaking of hats, I have a huge collection of unique hats, too!"  Well, Debi, if those hats are as colorful as your shining personality, I'm gonna need some powerful shades, for sure, if I ever get to the Sunshine State to meet you!  Happy Birthday and congratulations on your "lucky" life...and thanks for all you do on the Real Women of Philadelphia website! We other Real Women appreciate and absolutely love your humor and zest for life!

Check out all of Debi's contest entries at YouTube...your're in for a Real treat! And, don't forget to wish her a big 'ol Happy Birthday, all month long!